History Main / TheBerserker

* Berserkers are depicted in ''Film/TheNorthman'' in line with current historical understanding as warriors clad in animal pelts who enter a trance-like ritual state; even when not performing such rituals, Amleth still enters battle with ruthless ferocity.

* Dinobot of ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}: WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', is the very ''definition'' of this one. He wasn't ''afraid'' to die... Seeing a battle through to the end was a pretty significant part of his code of honor. [[spoiler:True to form, he went out in a blaze of glory.]]
** When Optimus gets infected with a cyberbee designed to make him a coward, [[GoneHorriblyWrong but got the opposite effect]], he tore through the Predacon base with apparent ease.
* The [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Decepticon]] Sixshot is one of these. He is portrayed as possibly being the greatest pure warrior among the Transformers (though others may be more gifted at overall strategy, or just more powerful), aided by his (even more) rapid transformation speed and five alternate modes. Though a Decepticon, he speaks well of those he's beaten in combat, as he hopes that should anyone ever defeat him he will be treated as respectfully.

Berserkers are equally capable of being good or evil. If they're good, then out of battle, they will likely brood about whatever it is that causes their berserk fits or remorse about losing control of themselves. Most end up one of two ways: being taught by their teammates to control themselves after a particularly close call, or dying in a dramatic fashion while lamenting that they died without completing their mission. Good Berserkers are also very prone to {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s, for very obvious reasons. When this is not played for drama, the Berserker may have a BoisterousBruiser attitude when not in his battle rage. An evil Berserker, on the other hand, is generally just unrepentantly AxCrazy and very often ChaoticEvil.

When the Berserker is pitted against an [[TheAce ace]] who matches him in combat, but also has a much cooler head on his shoulders, see ArrogantGodVsRagingMonster.

* Ajax in ''Film/{{Troy}}''. When he goes into battle, no AnnoyingArrows or [[OnlyAFleshWound mere impalement]] can stop him from administering a [[DropTheHammer righteous hammer]] of justice.

Berserkers that truly do wish to die in battle are better known as {{Death Seeker}}s -- those who don't often overlap with the BloodKnight or BarbarianHero instead. When foolishly done without any regard to strategy or planning, the Berserker becomes a LeeroyJenkins. Because of its historical root, berserkers are likely part of a ProudWarriorRace.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': While all the {{professional killer}}s at IMP (and the receptionist if needed) can get quite bloodthirsty, but Millie stands out among them, whether she's [[PsychoForHire just having fun]] or in an UnstoppableRage. Tellingly, she's not allowed to participate in the rodeo competition in her home village because she "gets carried away" and was responsible for nine out of the fifteen deaths the last time around.

The Berserker is a character who throws themself into a fight with such reckless abandon, it seems like they ''want'' to die. It could be [[HotBlooded over]]-[[BloodKnight enthusiasm]], [[SuicidalOverconfidence overconfidence]], UnstoppableRage, or [[DeathSeeker the desire to die in battle]]. Whatever the cause, it's usually accompanied by a [[ScreamingWarrior bellowing warcry]]. Sometimes with total obliviousness to [[FriendOrFoe whether they're actually fighting the enemy]]. And they [[AttackAttackAttack never, ever retreat]].